The Jailer Keeps Artists Like You from Being Visible
For the last few weeks I've been writing about visibility and marketing as an artist, and some of the cast of characters who like to protect you from having any negative experiences by putting yourself out there. In the first two weeks of December you met the Jellyfish, the voice of resistance, and the Judge, your inner critic.
The next character in the Safety Squad, the voices in our head that want to keep us safe by making sure we never make anything, is the Jailer. The Jailer keeps you from being visible by never allowing you to finish anything.
The Jailer is the head of the Visibility Police
If by hard work and miracles, you escape the paralysis of the Jellyfish’s resistance, and the wounding of the Judge’s criticism, the Jailer steps up next.
Its role is to make sure you never show your art to anyone.
How to spot the Jailer’s Work
You can recognize the Jailer at work if you never finish anything, so you never have anything complete to show anyone. You might notice that you don’t update your website with new work, or even old work...or any work at all. Maybe you haven’t gotten around to making a website yet, or even a Facebook page or Instagram feed. I’m not endorsing social media necessarily; it’s just that people can’t find you if you’re nowhere to be found.
Are you in Jail?
Does the prospect of showing your work to someone besides your goldfish paralyze you with dread? Then you might be in jail. The Jailer might be running your creative life.
I can help you.
If you want help getting out of jail, book a 15 minute session with me and I’ll get you started exploring your visibility as an artist.
If you are a creative and you want to get your work into the world, here are four ways I can help you:
- Start by watching the interviews I’ve been doing with artists, to see what other creatives do to get their work out. I’ve been interviewing an artist every week, first on Instagram Live, and then on Zoom and posting the recording to YouTube.
- If you are ready to start selling your art, Download my cheatsheet: Keep Calm & Sell Something. Follow the directions in there, and tell someone else you’re doing it so you can be accountable to them. While you begin working with your trauma, the best antidote to pain is companionship and connection.
- If you want to make yourself a day job (which means starting a business), get a copy of my business plan book for creatives, Passion, Plan, Profit, and find someone, or better, three other someones, and go through the book together. The book tells you how to work in a group or in pairs, and you can download the worksheets in the book here. Companionship and connection again.
- If you want guidance, book a 15 minute chat with me here and I’ll get you pointed in the right direction.
In the comments below, let me know if you struggle with visibility as an artist. Is the Jailer holding you back?